Music And Family

 

    Growing up my Mother made a concerted effort to make sure we (her kids) were singing just as loud as she was on every long car ride. Because of this she was constantly playing her favorite music and artists, ensuring that we'd know exactly who the real king of Hip Hop was (none other than Tupac Shakur). She'd remind us that no matter who came along, and how talented they seemed, they'd never top Beyonce. I have to admit, my love from music stemmed from those long car rides listening to Destiny's child, India Arie, Jazmine Sullivan, Adele, and so many others. So when I asked my mother, "Where did your love for music stem from?", she began to name the longest list of names of 80's rappers and pop artists. I stopped and asked, "Okay, but specifically WHO?" She took a long pause and then looked at me with the widest smile and said "Definitely Beyonce". I already knew the answer to this question because my mother and I shared the same undying love for Beyonce. One of her favorite things about Beyonce was how she remained so popular and loved for so long. She expressed how she felt like she grew up with her because they're the same age, and their birthdays are a month apart. It dawned on me that the world was first introduced to Beyonce when she was only 9 years old. So my mothers feelings about "Growing up with her" were very real. 

    My mom talked about how she'd dance and sing around the house as if she were on stage just like her. At the time it was unbelievable to see a group of young girls actually living out every other young girls dream. 

Eventually Beyonce transitioned into Destiny's Child. As she grew in age her music began to reflect what a young woman might experience while she was navigating the world, love and heartbreak. 'Girl' was one of my mothers favorite songs at the time of its release. The song was basically a dialogue between a friend group of young women just checking up on each other. Mom said she remembered feeling so "Seen" the first time she heard it. 

After a few years of being in Destiny's Child, Beyonce decided to pursue a career as a solo artists. By this time (around 2013) I began to see for myself how deeply my mom connected to Beyonce. I remember seeing my mom moved so deeply for the first time while listening to the song 'Resentment'. At the time I didn't fully understand what the song was about but now when I listen to it, I understand completely. 

'I was here' is probably one of my personal favorites of Beyonce's. I remember listening to it for the first time in the 5th grade and connecting so deeply with it. Mom said Beyonce's ability to reach my generation and her generation was by far her favorite thing about her. She talked about how many of the artists that were popular when she was a kid like Lil Kim, Ginuwine, and NSYNC had/have trouble connecting to the younger generations of people. She complained about them making music for the time and not music that would stand through every trend and fadd. She loved being able to share a love for music with me that was both then and now. She loves that her artistry didn't fade with age, but it was something that grew with her and people would appreciate it for years to come.